ST. PETERSBURG (WDAE) -- The month of June was a rough one for the Tampa Bay Rays, but they were able to finish it on a high note.
Blake Snell snapped a personal three-start winless skid and Tommy Pham homered as Tampa Bay won their first series in three weeks, defeating the Texas Rangers 6-2 to take the final two games of the weekend set.
The Rays took an early 1-0 lead on Jesse Chavez as Yandy Diaz doubled leading off the second inning, moving to third on a ground ball by Kevin Kiermaier that Elvis Andrus threw poorly for an error, and scoring on a sacrifice fly by Joey Wendle
Snell held on to that 1-0 lead until the fourth, when Elvis Andrus singled with two out in the inning and Joey Gallo launched a pitch that landed on the D-ring catwalk for his 20th home run of the season, giving Texas a 2-1 advantage.
Tampa Bay immediately took the lead back in the bottom of the same inning, as Diaz doubled with one out for the second time, scoring on a base hit by Kiermaier, and after Avisail Garcia's fly out, Joey Wendle was hit by a pitch, moving Kiermaier into scoring position for Willy Adames, who brought him home with a ground-rule double.
Pham gave Tampa Bay some insurance with a solo homer in the fifth, his 13th of the season.
Diaz and Kiermaier teamed up again in the eighth, as the first baseman doubled for the third time, scoring again on a triple by Kiermaier, who then came home himself on a passed ball.
The win gives Tampa Bay its first series win since June 7-9, when the Rays took three o four from the Boston Red Sox.
MONDAY'S MATCHUP
Tampa Bay Rays (48-36) vs. Baltimore Orioles (24-59), 7:10 pm first pitch, with coverage on WDAE beginning at 6:00 with The Inside Pitch.
Rays starter: RHP Ryne Stanek (0-1, 2.76 ERA)
Orioles starter: TBD